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OK, a thread on antisemitism and power dynamics where it's not part of a larger, sprawling analysis. THREAD. 1/x
Antisemitism serves different roles depending on who's pushing it out.
Antisemitism serves different roles depending on who's pushing it out.
The key line here, for this conversation: "The point of anti-Jewish oppression is to keep a Jewish face in front, so that Jews, instead of ruling classes, become the target for peoples’ rage." There are several players, here. "Ruling classes" and also "people who have rage."
They are not the same. Their interests are not the same. The problem with the discourse around antisemitism today is that they too often get utterly conflated. "Ruling classes" scapegoat Jews as a way to direct rage. "People" are being manipulated to keep eyes off ruling classes.
This does not excuse or justify antisemitism by the "people" in any way. Those "people" committed pogroms, aided and abetted the Holocaust, and so forth. They are complicit, and responsible for their actions and words. But their role is different.
But we always need to keep our eyes on where power is held. Always.
n America today, power is held by wealthy white men running the Right. And then there are white supremacists enacting the wishes of those in power. They are trying to hold/maintain power.
n America today, power is held by wealthy white men running the Right. And then there are white supremacists enacting the wishes of those in power. They are trying to hold/maintain power.
Again, this doesn't excuse or justify antisemitism by folks who are disenfranchised or oppressed but I locate it differently; they’re in the middle of the “pushing people to blame Jews not the ruling classes” equation. In some cases education can fix that. Sometimes it can’t.
In @dove_kent’s masterful @weareavodah talk on antisemitism and solidarity, she talks about staying in relationship w/those you think can grow and learn. There’s no perfect formula but there's real truth here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=574&v=ZHUtl4KqrZ0
I feel much more cynical about the possibilities of those trying to keep/maintain power being able or willing to change. Antisemitism suits their agenda in a different way, deflects anger at them. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s a much harder project.
It does happen, tho: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-white-flight-of-derek-black/2016/10/15/ed5f906a-8f3b-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_story.html Is Black part of the "ruling classes" though, maybe not. I don't know. That would take some unpacking.
Here's the longer thread on antisemitism with much more historical context and analysis about America today. But since the "where is power held" bit is more of a postscript, I wanted to make sure it was available more easily. https://twitter.com/TheRaDR/status/1057333224538624001
Here is a lot of what @dove_kent said, in written form, if that is how you best receive learning and insights: https://jewschool.com/2017/09/80330/yom-kippur-torahfortheresistance-jewish-allyship/
